E. Coli In Fredericton: 4 Confirmed New Brunswick Cases, Strain Same As One Found In Walkerton

FREDERICTON - Public health officials are investigating the source of four confirmed cases of a potential deadly strain of E. coli in the Fredericton area.

In a statement, New Brunswick's acting chief medical officer of health says the E. coli strain is the same one found during the Walkerton, Ont., water tragedy in 2000 that killed seven people.

Dr. Denis Allard says health officials are trying to determine where and what the people ate and whether the cases are connected, adding it's unlikely lab results will be available before the beginning of next week.

Last month, health officials in New Brunswick determined that romaine lettuce consumed at Jungle Jim's restaurant in Miramichi was the likely source of an outbreak of the same E. coli strain.

There were 13 confirmed cases, although no one developed serious complications.